Morton Arboretum

The Morton Arboretum, through a three-year initiative, will plan, develop, install, and evaluate new interpretive experiences for visitors and grow their appreciation of three of the Arboretum's most important living tree collections: crabapple (Malus), magnolia (Magnolia), and linden (Tilia). Throughout the Arboretum's 1,700 acres, the majority of visitor activity is centered on the Visitor Center and its surrounding area, resulting in guests engaging in just over two percent of the total collection. This project intends to entice more visitors to explore trees beyond this core area by creating micro-destinations within the Arboretum's collections that will inspire and engage visitors by inserting unexpected art and interactive opportunities into trailside panels. The arboretum will engage in formative evaluation to determine visitors' needs, interests, and general experiences currently within the collections; develop concepts that address opportunities for deeper engagement; fabricate and install interpretive elements; and conduct summative evaluation within each collection to determine their effectiveness in increasing visitor engagement.